Our company fabricates and molds rubber and plastic parts (hoses, gaskets, machine parts, etc.) using rubber and plastic materials supplied by a compound manufacturer that has a current 3-A Symbol on the rubber and plastic compounds. Can we display the 3-A Symbol and the standard number (18-03 or 20-23) on the parts we produce? If not, how can we convey to our customers compliance with these material standards?

3-A Sanitary Standards 18- and 20- are unique because they are for the rubber and plastic materials, not for specific formed or manufactured components used in other pieces of equipment. It may be possible for you to display a 3-A Symbol for Standards 18- and 20- provided you meet all the requirements for the 3-A Symbol Authorization process. Please bear in mind that the display of the 3-A Symbol for standards 18- and 20- may only be used on packaging or advertisement materials. The symbol may not be placed on the fabricated parts themselves with the exception of the exterior of hoses.

In order to display the symbol, you must apply for a symbol authorization under your own name just as your supplier has done. You are not permitted to use their application information in your application. This will require that you provide your own TPV report and test data necessary to demonstrate conformance with the standard for which you are applying. If you want authorizations for more than one formulation of rubber or generic class of plastic, test data for each will have to be submitted. You may check the 3-A SSI website for the appropriate forms and fees necessary to apply for a 3-A Symbol Authorization.

As an alternative, with your supplier’s permission, you may state that your components are manufactured from materials conforming to the 3-A Sanitary Standard For Multiple-Use Rubber and Rubber-Like Materials used as product Contact Surfaces or the 3-A Sanitary Standard for Multiple-Use Plastic Materials Used as Product Contact Surfaces supplied by and attested to by your named supplier. You may not state that your components are in conformance with the standard nor infer, in any way, that 3-A SSI sanctions the components manufactured.

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I am researching the purchase of a large enclosed cheese vat. I plan on requiring the vat to display the 3-A Symbol and comply with the 3-A Standard. Does the display of the 3-A Symbol guarantee that I will be able to fully CIP the cheese vat?

We compliment you on your plan to use the 3-A Sanitary Standards and 3-A Symbol programs to assure that you are purchasing a cheese vat of sanitary design. The 3-A Symbol does not guarantee that the cheese vat design will be compatible with CIP procedures. 3-A Sanitary Standards are written to accommodate the designs of fully CIP equipment, manually cleaned equipment, and equipment which uses a combination of these cleaning procedures such as the removal and hand cleaning of some appurtances while the bulk of the equipment is CIP cleaned. 3-A Sanitary Standards for Enclosed Cheese Vats and Tables, Number 83-00 covers your intended purchase. As you finalize your purchase, be sure to discuss with the fabricator/supplier that it is your intention to CIP the cheese vat and that they are to assure that they are in conformance specifically with criteria D4.1 and D4.3 as it pertains to cleaning and inspectability.

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Would you be able to give me a little history on where the term "splash contact area" was developed, by whom, and for what reason?

The term "splash contact surface" is in many national and international standards, such as NSF and EHEDG. The request came from some of the fabricators that market their equipment internationally and some users concerned about cleanability in the processing area. It was proposed to be included in the Format and Style Manual for 3-A Standards and 3-A Accepted Practices as a further clarification of surfaces which are clearly non-product contact surfaces but still need special attention to assure cleanability. An example of this area is the area below a fill nozzle on a filling machine. If the nozzle activates and there is no container in place product can accumulate on those surfaces. The thinking was that these areas may need to be identified and more cleanable than other nonproduct contact surfaces not subject to heavy product residues.

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